WEBVTT 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:04.620 Please take your Bibles and open them up this morning to the book of Genesis. 00:00:05.339 --> 00:00:10.500 ! Our series is somehow winding its way to a close. 00:00:10.720 --> 00:00:14.000 I think we have maybe four sermons left in the book of Genesis. 00:00:14.300 --> 00:00:17.900 And as we come to the end, Joseph's section here at the end, 00:00:18.339 --> 00:00:23.359 these are larger narrative chunks, larger portions of Scripture that we'll be taking. 00:00:23.900 --> 00:00:25.980 And so I'm going to change it up a little bit this morning. 00:00:25.980 --> 00:00:31.660 I'm not going to have you stand and read through the whole text at the very beginning of the sermon. 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:36.880 But I promise you I will read every word within the sermon this morning. 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:38.920 Our text is Genesis 43. 00:00:40.020 --> 00:00:44.740 And we're going to be working our way all the way through chapter 45, verse 15. 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:49.000 So be grateful that we're not standing to sound, guys, this morning. 00:00:49.060 --> 00:00:52.079 We're taking bets on how long we would be standing this morning. 00:00:52.579 --> 00:00:54.079 I'll be merciful to you. 00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:56.219 But again, I promise we will read every word. 00:00:56.519 --> 00:00:59.739 So as we prepare to hear from the Word of God this morning, 00:00:59.979 --> 00:01:01.439 would you bow and pray with me once more? 00:01:01.979 --> 00:01:08.480 Father, the grass withers and the flower fades, but the Word of the Lord endures forever. 00:01:08.679 --> 00:01:12.840 All our hope is in the promises that you've made to us here in your Word. 00:01:13.700 --> 00:01:17.060 And so would you please take it from the pages of Scripture 00:01:17.060 --> 00:01:21.280 and plant it deep within our hearts by the power of your Spirit. 00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:26.939 Would you empower the preaching of your Word for the health of your church? 00:01:27.879 --> 00:01:29.379 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:01:30.140 --> 00:01:30.439 Amen. 00:01:30.439 --> 00:01:30.560 Amen. 00:01:32.840 --> 00:01:37.159 Well, just last week I was coming back from Ghana. 00:01:37.459 --> 00:01:41.219 And I was there, as you know, to train about 40 pastors. 00:01:42.060 --> 00:01:45.439 We walked our way through a survey of the Old Testament 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:48.759 and launched this training site that, Lord willing, 00:01:48.939 --> 00:01:51.939 we will get to be a part of for the next three years. 00:01:51.939 --> 00:01:59.159 And while I was there, I had the incredible privilege of meeting this brother named Pastor Sampson. 00:01:59.739 --> 00:02:00.659 It should be a picture. 00:02:00.780 --> 00:02:01.140 There we go. 00:02:01.319 --> 00:02:02.299 There's Pastor Sampson. 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:06.000 I plan to share more about Pastor Sampson this evening. 00:02:06.239 --> 00:02:10.439 So please, again, I would encourage you to come as I share about him. 00:02:11.219 --> 00:02:14.879 Pastor Sampson belongs to an unreached people group. 00:02:15.599 --> 00:02:20.219 That's a group of people that have little to no access to the gospel, 00:02:20.219 --> 00:02:23.099 a majority unreached with the gospel. 00:02:23.539 --> 00:02:24.719 But he is a believer. 00:02:25.159 --> 00:02:26.819 This is the Achaday people. 00:02:27.479 --> 00:02:31.639 And he pastors a church amongst his people there in the OT region of Ghana 00:02:31.639 --> 00:02:36.500 with several members of his tribe as well as some other tribes as well. 00:02:37.139 --> 00:02:42.360 But over the past year, he has been hindered, providentially hindered, 00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:47.419 unable to gather with his people because his tribe, the Achaday people, 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:49.500 are under attack. 00:02:50.219 --> 00:02:57.379 Another tribe in the area has sought to basically wipe them out and exterminate them, 00:02:57.539 --> 00:03:00.259 extinguish them from the face of the planet. 00:03:00.620 --> 00:03:04.740 Even while I was there, he got word that shots had been fired 00:03:04.740 --> 00:03:07.680 and several of his people had been killed. 00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:12.379 He's been displaced from his home for the past year. 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:13.539 He's basically a refugee. 00:03:13.539 --> 00:03:19.259 And to top it all off, he makes his income, his livelihood, selling honey. 00:03:19.400 --> 00:03:25.039 He had well over 100 hives that would produce honey that he would then turn and sell 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:26.399 to generate his income. 00:03:26.639 --> 00:03:31.739 Well, this enemy tribe has come through and wiped out all but five of his beehives 00:03:31.739 --> 00:03:37.739 and then went and destroyed all of his reserves, basically his entire life savings, 00:03:37.740 --> 00:03:40.200 all of his investments for the future. 00:03:40.740 --> 00:03:43.939 All of it is entirely wiped out. 00:03:44.060 --> 00:03:48.760 And I wonder, how would you respond if you were in Pastor Sampson's shoes? 00:03:48.759 --> 00:04:00.560 The natural response to difficulty, whether small or large, tends to be, on one hand, hopelessness. 00:04:00.979 --> 00:04:05.060 It would be natural for someone in his shoes, in his situation, to despair. 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:09.239 It would be natural, in other response, it would be natural for him to fear, 00:04:10.239 --> 00:04:13.319 to be fearful about the attacks that are coming against him, 00:04:13.319 --> 00:04:16.420 to be fearful about what the future might hold. 00:04:16.759 --> 00:04:18.319 It would be natural for him to worry. 00:04:18.779 --> 00:04:19.579 What will I do? 00:04:20.819 --> 00:04:26.680 And yet, as I spoke with him, it's amazing, even in the midst of this great difficulty, 00:04:26.680 --> 00:04:34.920 as you listen to Pastor Sampson speak, there was this undeniable note of hope and confidence. 00:04:36.519 --> 00:04:37.519 There was even joy. 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:40.920 He would sing loudly as we worshiped the Lord together. 00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:42.319 He received the teaching eagerly. 00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:48.219 He'd sit right there in the front row, Bible open, ready to learn, eager to hear from the Scriptures. 00:04:49.339 --> 00:04:52.779 He laughed as we ate together and swapped stories. 00:04:53.060 --> 00:05:00.860 And the reason why, he told us, is because he believes firmly in a God who is both good and sovereign. 00:05:02.779 --> 00:05:12.259 He has put his hope fully in a God who reigns and rules over all things, all times, all circumstances, 00:05:12.319 --> 00:05:19.439 even the hardest and most difficult moments of his life are in the hands of a good and sovereign God. 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:25.219 You may never face suffering as intense as this. 00:05:25.259 --> 00:05:27.500 In fact, I pray that you don't. 00:05:27.500 --> 00:05:35.060 But what I want us to see this morning is that this is the perspective that you and I can have in our suffering. 00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:41.879 And regardless of what shape our difficulty takes, the believer in Christ, here's the big idea for us this morning. 00:05:42.300 --> 00:05:54.620 The believer in Christ can face great difficulty with the certain hope that our God is working all things for his glory and for our good. 00:05:54.620 --> 00:05:56.000 So let's take a look this morning. 00:05:56.360 --> 00:05:59.740 And what we'll see is three responses to great difficulty. 00:06:00.199 --> 00:06:01.560 This will be our outline this morning. 00:06:01.639 --> 00:06:03.579 If you're taking notes, it might help you to follow along. 00:06:03.939 --> 00:06:06.800 Three responses to great difficulty. 00:06:07.879 --> 00:06:13.720 The first response that we see is the response of despair or hopelessness. 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:17.120 We see this in Jacob's response to his difficulty. 00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:22.680 If you look there to chapter 43, and just to kind of remind us where we are again and set the stage, 00:06:22.759 --> 00:06:26.579 you remember at this point Joseph has been sold into slavery. 00:06:26.860 --> 00:06:28.840 His brothers have betrayed him. 00:06:28.939 --> 00:06:30.840 He's now off in Egypt. 00:06:31.060 --> 00:06:33.939 And yet God has been merciful to him. 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:37.579 He's raised him up to a position of authority in Egypt. 00:06:37.579 --> 00:06:43.500 And meanwhile, just as he dreamed would happen, now there's famine and all the land. 00:06:43.699 --> 00:06:47.919 And Joseph's brothers, we saw last week, came to Joseph to buy grain. 00:06:47.939 --> 00:06:49.639 Only they didn't know it was Joseph. 00:06:50.860 --> 00:06:54.860 As we read this story, it's like we get this behind-the-scenes account. 00:06:55.039 --> 00:06:56.539 We get to peek behind the curtain. 00:06:56.819 --> 00:06:59.620 We're let in on a secret that the brothers don't know. 00:06:59.979 --> 00:07:02.539 We get to see all of this unfold in their life. 00:07:02.540 --> 00:07:07.340 And so Joseph gives them some grain to live on, but now some time has passed. 00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:10.120 They've gone through all the grain, and they're hungry again. 00:07:10.260 --> 00:07:12.960 They must return back to Egypt. 00:07:13.100 --> 00:07:14.420 So look there to verse 1 with me. 00:07:16.020 --> 00:07:17.740 Chapter 43, verse 1 says, 00:07:17.840 --> 00:07:19.960 Now the famine was severe in the land. 00:07:20.960 --> 00:07:23.520 And when they had eaten the grain they had bought from Egypt, 00:07:23.720 --> 00:07:26.379 their father said to them, Go again, buy us a little food. 00:07:27.180 --> 00:07:28.320 But Judah said to him, 00:07:28.320 --> 00:07:30.920 The man solemnly warned us, saying, 00:07:30.920 --> 00:07:34.580 You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you. 00:07:35.240 --> 00:07:38.620 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 00:07:38.960 --> 00:07:41.360 But if you will not send him, we will not go down. 00:07:41.800 --> 00:07:42.960 For the man said to us, 00:07:43.020 --> 00:07:46.300 You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you. 00:07:47.160 --> 00:07:47.900 Israel said, 00:07:48.100 --> 00:07:51.920 Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother? 00:07:52.819 --> 00:07:53.540 They replied, 00:07:53.819 --> 00:07:57.020 The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, 00:07:57.240 --> 00:07:57.540 saying, 00:07:57.759 --> 00:07:59.280 Is your father still alive? 00:07:59.280 --> 00:08:00.720 Do you have another brother? 00:08:01.280 --> 00:08:03.960 What we told him was an answer to these questions. 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:06.400 Could we have in any way known that he would say, 00:08:06.640 --> 00:08:07.360 Bring your brother down? 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:09.860 And so you see the issues here, 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:11.439 the tension of the passage. 00:08:11.980 --> 00:08:12.980 For one thing, again, 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:15.300 we see that the famine here is severe. 00:08:15.960 --> 00:08:17.060 And we've already seen this. 00:08:17.379 --> 00:08:20.439 Chapter 41 told us twice that the famine was severe. 00:08:21.160 --> 00:08:22.200 And in the ancient world, 00:08:22.259 --> 00:08:25.160 a famine like this would threaten the lives of anybody 00:08:25.160 --> 00:08:27.540 who couldn't easily get access to food. 00:08:27.879 --> 00:08:28.720 That's one issue. 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:30.940 But you see another issue here. 00:08:31.640 --> 00:08:33.360 Jacob keeps losing sons. 00:08:34.440 --> 00:08:35.759 And this is a problem. 00:08:36.600 --> 00:08:37.840 At first it was Joseph. 00:08:38.519 --> 00:08:40.060 He thinks that Joseph is gone. 00:08:40.200 --> 00:08:41.340 And then Simeon. 00:08:41.460 --> 00:08:42.940 Simeon, you remember from last week, 00:08:42.980 --> 00:08:44.940 he's still there imprisoned in Egypt. 00:08:45.060 --> 00:08:46.920 He's just waiting on somebody to come help him out. 00:08:46.919 --> 00:08:49.459 And now Benjamin, 00:08:49.779 --> 00:08:51.399 Jacob's new favorite son, 00:08:51.559 --> 00:08:53.120 is being threatened. 00:08:54.079 --> 00:08:55.419 Now on a natural level, 00:08:56.059 --> 00:08:58.699 this is a great difficulty for anybody, right? 00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:01.299 The threat of famine is an incredible trial. 00:09:01.500 --> 00:09:03.299 The threat of losing children. 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:05.279 These are not small dangers. 00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:07.620 But on an even bigger level, 00:09:08.299 --> 00:09:10.419 on a greater spiritual level, 00:09:10.419 --> 00:09:14.919 we need to remember that there's an even greater risk at play here 00:09:14.919 --> 00:09:16.419 that we need to be mindful of. 00:09:16.620 --> 00:09:19.379 Don't you remember why we're focused in on Jacob and his family? 00:09:20.919 --> 00:09:23.019 Out of all the families of the world 00:09:23.019 --> 00:09:24.339 that are dealing with this famine, 00:09:25.139 --> 00:09:28.620 why are we zoomed in here on this one family? 00:09:28.740 --> 00:09:31.579 Why are we focused in on Jacob and his children? 00:09:31.819 --> 00:09:32.059 Why? 00:09:32.059 --> 00:09:37.279 It's because we are tracing the promises God has made. 00:09:38.239 --> 00:09:40.899 Genesis is all about our God, 00:09:41.259 --> 00:09:42.039 his power, 00:09:42.439 --> 00:09:43.479 his faithfulness, 00:09:43.699 --> 00:09:44.439 his promises. 00:09:44.859 --> 00:09:47.079 We're tracing the promises God has made. 00:09:47.359 --> 00:09:50.599 God has made certain promises to Jacob and his children 00:09:50.599 --> 00:09:52.959 that are now under attack 00:09:52.959 --> 00:09:55.039 and are being threatened by one, 00:09:55.119 --> 00:09:55.679 this famine, 00:09:56.139 --> 00:09:56.619 and two, 00:09:56.739 --> 00:09:58.219 the dwindling of his children. 00:09:59.479 --> 00:10:00.679 God has promised, 00:10:00.679 --> 00:10:01.599 Genesis 3, 00:10:01.979 --> 00:10:05.019 the seed of the woman will crush the head of the serpent. 00:10:05.419 --> 00:10:07.919 It will undo the effects of the fall. 00:10:08.579 --> 00:10:10.079 That promise has gotten clarified 00:10:10.079 --> 00:10:11.899 in his words to Abraham. 00:10:12.219 --> 00:10:13.439 He's going to give an offspring 00:10:13.439 --> 00:10:15.679 who will be a blessing to the nations. 00:10:16.239 --> 00:10:19.059 That offspring promise has now been carried over 00:10:19.059 --> 00:10:20.659 from Abraham to Isaac, 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:21.959 now to Jacob. 00:10:22.219 --> 00:10:24.500 That promise is under attack. 00:10:24.599 --> 00:10:26.979 We need to read this with a spiritual lens 00:10:26.979 --> 00:10:28.500 in light of the promises of God. 00:10:29.319 --> 00:10:30.439 And yet, 00:10:31.599 --> 00:10:33.199 Jacob doesn't seem to be too concerned 00:10:33.199 --> 00:10:33.799 with any of that, 00:10:33.859 --> 00:10:34.179 does he? 00:10:35.839 --> 00:10:37.459 Despite all that he's seen, 00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:38.599 Jacob still, 00:10:38.699 --> 00:10:40.839 he doesn't seem to be acting in faith 00:10:40.839 --> 00:10:42.439 on the promises of God, 00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:42.859 does he? 00:10:44.099 --> 00:10:44.719 He still, 00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:46.459 he doesn't even seem to be too concerned 00:10:46.459 --> 00:10:47.919 with his son Simeon. 00:10:48.139 --> 00:10:48.319 I mean, 00:10:48.359 --> 00:10:49.779 why in the world does he wait so long 00:10:49.779 --> 00:10:50.779 to go back to Egypt? 00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:52.639 He waits until the grain is gone. 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:53.179 And meanwhile, 00:10:53.699 --> 00:10:55.599 his son is just waiting there 00:10:55.599 --> 00:10:57.299 for somebody to come help him out 00:10:57.299 --> 00:10:59.459 and to come save him from Egypt. 00:10:59.460 --> 00:11:01.040 Jacob doesn't seem to care. 00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:03.000 All Jacob cares about 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:04.360 is the well-being 00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:06.060 of his new favorite son, 00:11:06.160 --> 00:11:06.420 Benjamin. 00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:08.340 But now, 00:11:09.280 --> 00:11:10.519 his hand is forced, 00:11:10.700 --> 00:11:11.879 the grain is gone, 00:11:11.980 --> 00:11:13.600 they have nothing to eat, 00:11:13.820 --> 00:11:15.840 and his most beloved son 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:19.120 is going to be put at risk. 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:23.000 Look how Judah speaks up here in verse 8. 00:11:24.500 --> 00:11:24.860 It says, 00:11:24.940 --> 00:11:26.639 Judah said to Israel his father, 00:11:27.019 --> 00:11:28.419 Send the boy with me. 00:11:28.860 --> 00:11:30.399 We will arise and go, 00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:32.419 that we may live and not die, 00:11:32.500 --> 00:11:33.700 both we and you, 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:35.279 and also our little ones. 00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:37.600 I will be a pledge of his safety. 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:40.100 From my hand you shall require him. 00:11:40.100 --> 00:11:42.759 If I do not bring him back to you 00:11:42.759 --> 00:11:44.379 and set him before you, 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:46.840 then let me bear the blame forever. 00:11:46.840 --> 00:11:48.920 And then he adds this. 00:11:48.980 --> 00:11:49.480 I love this. 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:50.540 If we hadn't delayed, 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:52.180 we would have been there twice now. 00:11:53.440 --> 00:11:55.360 We would have returned twice. 00:11:55.500 --> 00:11:56.040 I love that. 00:11:56.120 --> 00:11:57.000 You see what's happening, right? 00:11:57.139 --> 00:11:57.960 The grain is gone. 00:11:58.019 --> 00:11:59.060 He's getting hangry. 00:12:00.300 --> 00:12:01.500 The food is running out. 00:12:01.580 --> 00:12:03.000 Dad, we don't have time for this. 00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:06.879 But here we see Judah is stepping up. 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:09.000 He's personally guaranteeing 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:10.940 the safety of his younger brother, 00:12:11.320 --> 00:12:11.700 Benjamin. 00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:13.900 Now, who is it? 00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:14.280 Reuben. 00:12:14.899 --> 00:12:16.399 Reuben is the firstborn. 00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:17.620 Reuben should have been 00:12:17.620 --> 00:12:18.819 the one stepping up, right? 00:12:19.720 --> 00:12:22.059 But we'll see later on in chapter 49. 00:12:22.419 --> 00:12:25.120 Reuben lost that place in the family, 00:12:25.299 --> 00:12:27.740 that place of the firstborn preeminence, 00:12:27.779 --> 00:12:30.679 because he slept with one of his father's concubines. 00:12:31.319 --> 00:12:33.240 And so here, Judah steps up. 00:12:33.299 --> 00:12:34.419 He takes that place 00:12:34.419 --> 00:12:36.759 and he speaks on behalf of all the brothers. 00:12:36.939 --> 00:12:40.059 And he personally guarantees Benjamin's safety. 00:12:40.059 --> 00:12:44.699 So, verse 11, Israel agrees. 00:12:45.879 --> 00:12:47.119 Their father Israel said to them, 00:12:47.239 --> 00:12:49.119 If it must be so, then do this. 00:12:49.259 --> 00:12:51.859 Take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags 00:12:51.859 --> 00:12:54.379 and carry a present down to the man, 00:12:54.759 --> 00:12:58.000 a little balm, a little honey, gum, myrrh, 00:12:58.159 --> 00:12:59.619 pistachio nuts, almonds. 00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:01.819 He gets his whole charcuterie board prepared. 00:13:02.659 --> 00:13:04.199 Take double the money with you. 00:13:04.859 --> 00:13:06.439 Carry back with you the money 00:13:06.439 --> 00:13:08.379 that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. 00:13:08.379 --> 00:13:09.980 Perhaps it was an oversight. 00:13:10.360 --> 00:13:13.620 Take also your brother and arise and go to the man. 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:15.580 And then he lifts up this prayer. 00:13:15.720 --> 00:13:16.259 Verse 14. 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:20.879 May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man. 00:13:21.299 --> 00:13:25.059 And may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. 00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:28.320 And if he had only just stopped right there, 00:13:29.439 --> 00:13:31.240 we wouldn't think anything of it, would we? 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:33.820 But look at what he says next. 00:13:33.820 --> 00:13:35.860 As for me, 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:38.720 if I am bereaved of my children, 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:41.080 I am bereaved. 00:13:42.820 --> 00:13:46.060 You can just hear the note of hopelessness 00:13:46.060 --> 00:13:48.120 in his voice, can't you? 00:13:49.480 --> 00:13:50.280 As for me, 00:13:50.520 --> 00:13:52.200 if I am bereaved of my children, 00:13:53.140 --> 00:13:54.180 then I am bereaved. 00:13:55.280 --> 00:13:57.940 He's faced with the danger of losing everything 00:13:57.940 --> 00:13:59.120 that's precious to him. 00:13:59.180 --> 00:13:59.800 And so now, 00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:02.460 Jacob has fallen to the point of despair. 00:14:02.460 --> 00:14:04.180 If I'm bereaved of my children, 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:05.440 I'm bereaved. 00:14:05.580 --> 00:14:07.040 That's not faith, church. 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:08.180 This is fatalism. 00:14:09.379 --> 00:14:11.180 Whatever's going to happen is going to happen. 00:14:11.980 --> 00:14:13.420 Whatever will be, will be. 00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:16.740 It's like he just throws up his hands in the air 00:14:16.740 --> 00:14:17.019 and says, 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:18.759 none of this really matters anyways. 00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:19.400 Who cares? 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:21.780 Whatever's going to happen is going to happen. 00:14:21.920 --> 00:14:23.300 If he dies, he dies. 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:26.420 This is a response of hopelessness in church. 00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:28.780 This is a worldly response. 00:14:28.779 --> 00:14:32.319 This is a worldly response to trials. 00:14:33.299 --> 00:14:34.299 But unfortunately, 00:14:34.559 --> 00:14:37.360 it's also a common response to trials, isn't it? 00:14:38.059 --> 00:14:39.740 When things go wrong 00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:42.559 and we're faced with some sort of difficulty, 00:14:42.699 --> 00:14:43.659 whatever it may be, 00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:46.860 how quickly do you and I fall into despair? 00:14:48.539 --> 00:14:49.799 And we just throw up our hands. 00:14:49.899 --> 00:14:51.360 It always happens to me. 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:54.079 Might as well send me another bill 00:14:54.079 --> 00:14:55.259 and add it to the pile. 00:14:55.259 --> 00:14:58.500 Now, the other car might as well break down too. 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:00.720 Well, my left leg's hurt. 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:02.519 Maybe my right leg will go out this week. 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:05.659 And sometimes it seems like trials 00:15:05.659 --> 00:15:07.200 just come in bunches 00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:08.600 and it's always all at once. 00:15:08.679 --> 00:15:10.139 And when it rains, it pours. 00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:12.580 And that barrage of difficulty 00:15:12.580 --> 00:15:14.759 after difficulty after difficulty, 00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:16.799 that can wear us down 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:18.819 and make us feel hopeless. 00:15:19.960 --> 00:15:21.700 You can imagine Pastor Sampson 00:15:21.700 --> 00:15:23.200 saying the same thing, can't you? 00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:25.879 Might as well destroy my other five hives. 00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:27.740 What does it matter anyways? 00:15:29.640 --> 00:15:30.840 Or take Job, 00:15:31.700 --> 00:15:35.040 who had more reason to despair than Job. 00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:38.000 One day of his life, 00:15:38.120 --> 00:15:39.580 all of his servants are gone. 00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:41.240 All of his livestock is gone. 00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:44.020 All of his children are wiped out. 00:15:44.100 --> 00:15:45.680 All of it in a single day. 00:15:45.940 --> 00:15:48.480 Now, you would expect a response of despair 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:50.000 from someone who went through 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:51.200 what Job went through. 00:15:51.280 --> 00:15:52.660 And yet, what does he do? 00:15:52.659 --> 00:15:54.240 It says, 00:15:54.319 --> 00:15:56.059 Job arose and tore his robe 00:15:56.059 --> 00:15:57.159 and shaved his head 00:15:57.159 --> 00:15:58.459 and fell on the ground 00:15:58.459 --> 00:15:59.740 and worshiped. 00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:01.199 And he said, 00:16:01.299 --> 00:16:03.000 Naked I came from my mother's womb. 00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:04.799 Naked shall I return. 00:16:05.100 --> 00:16:06.199 The Lord gave 00:16:06.199 --> 00:16:07.759 and the Lord has taken away. 00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:10.399 Blessed be the name of the Lord. 00:16:10.659 --> 00:16:12.240 That's the response of someone 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:14.139 who's clinging to the promises of God. 00:16:14.139 --> 00:16:19.319 When difficulty comes, 00:16:19.939 --> 00:16:21.639 when not if, 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:24.919 do you respond with despair 00:16:24.919 --> 00:16:29.399 or do you cling to the promises of God? 00:16:30.539 --> 00:16:32.059 And we see a second response here 00:16:32.059 --> 00:16:33.740 starting in verse 15. 00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:36.360 And the second response is one of fear. 00:16:36.360 --> 00:16:40.240 This is another typical response to difficulty. 00:16:40.419 --> 00:16:43.440 Joseph's brothers show us this response to difficulty. 00:16:43.659 --> 00:16:44.800 Starting here in verse 15. 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:45.500 Look there with me. 00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:47.480 After this conversation, 00:16:47.700 --> 00:16:47.940 it says, 00:16:47.940 --> 00:16:49.760 The men took this present, 00:16:50.140 --> 00:16:51.820 they took double the money with them, 00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:53.640 and they took Benjamin. 00:16:54.440 --> 00:16:56.080 They arose and went down to Egypt 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:57.720 and stood before Joseph. 00:16:58.160 --> 00:17:00.260 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, 00:17:00.780 --> 00:17:02.260 he said to the steward of the house, 00:17:02.520 --> 00:17:04.019 Bring the men into the house, 00:17:04.539 --> 00:17:05.460 slaughter an animal, 00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:06.180 and make ready, 00:17:06.340 --> 00:17:08.720 for the men are to dine with me at noon. 00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:11.140 The man did as Joseph told him 00:17:11.140 --> 00:17:12.720 and brought the men to Joseph's house. 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:14.940 And the men, Joseph's brothers, 00:17:15.360 --> 00:17:16.240 were afraid 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:19.100 because they were brought to Joseph's house. 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:20.299 And they said, 00:17:20.360 --> 00:17:21.160 It's because of the money 00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:23.220 which was replaced in our sacks the first time 00:17:23.220 --> 00:17:24.579 that we're being brought in 00:17:24.579 --> 00:17:26.259 so that he may assault us 00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:27.440 and fall upon us 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:28.500 to make us his servants 00:17:28.500 --> 00:17:29.920 and seize our donkeys. 00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:32.960 And so they went up to the steward of Joseph's house 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:34.779 and spoke with him at the door of the house 00:17:34.779 --> 00:17:35.140 and said, 00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:36.079 Oh my Lord, 00:17:36.100 --> 00:17:37.920 we came down the first time to buy food. 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:39.779 And when we came to the lodging place, 00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:40.860 we opened our sacks 00:17:40.860 --> 00:17:42.480 and there was each man's money 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:43.620 in the mouth of the sack, 00:17:43.940 --> 00:17:45.200 our money in full weight. 00:17:45.380 --> 00:17:47.279 So we've brought it again with us 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:50.039 and we've brought other money down with us to buy food. 00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:52.299 We do not know who put our money in our sacks. 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:53.860 You hear that they're explaining themselves 00:17:53.860 --> 00:17:56.400 before they've even been asked about any wrongdoing. 00:17:57.440 --> 00:17:58.680 Now we have to understand 00:17:58.680 --> 00:18:00.620 it would have been a terrifying thing 00:18:00.620 --> 00:18:03.039 for these Hebrews to be brought into the home 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:06.019 of this high Egyptian great ruler. 00:18:06.120 --> 00:18:07.339 This was not a common thing. 00:18:08.120 --> 00:18:09.599 And we see throughout the passage 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:11.620 that Hebrews are an abomination 00:18:11.619 --> 00:18:12.739 to the Egyptians. 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:14.919 They're afraid to be in his presence. 00:18:15.819 --> 00:18:17.979 They're afraid that this great ruler of Egypt 00:18:17.979 --> 00:18:20.000 is bringing them in for judgment. 00:18:20.219 --> 00:18:23.139 They're fearful about what might happen to them. 00:18:23.219 --> 00:18:24.279 Maybe they'll punish me. 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:26.559 And maybe he'll kill me. 00:18:27.219 --> 00:18:28.459 Maybe he'll imprison me. 00:18:29.239 --> 00:18:29.739 And so again, 00:18:29.819 --> 00:18:31.699 before they're even asked about any wrongdoing, 00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:34.239 they go and they start trying to clear their record. 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:34.799 I'm innocent. 00:18:34.919 --> 00:18:35.299 I'm innocent. 00:18:35.419 --> 00:18:35.779 I'm innocent. 00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:37.299 But verse 23, 00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:38.180 he replies, 00:18:38.879 --> 00:18:39.940 Peace to you. 00:18:41.059 --> 00:18:42.440 Do not be afraid. 00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:44.279 Your God, 00:18:44.680 --> 00:18:45.940 and the God of your father, 00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:48.700 has put treasure in your sacks for you. 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:50.480 An interesting comment from an Egyptian. 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.639 I received your money. 00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:55.160 And then he brought out Simeon to them. 00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:57.940 And when the man had brought the men to Joseph's house 00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:58.759 and given them water, 00:18:58.859 --> 00:19:00.039 and they had washed their feet, 00:19:00.420 --> 00:19:02.339 and when he had given their donkeys fodder, 00:19:02.339 --> 00:19:05.179 they prepared the present for Joseph's coming at noon, 00:19:05.259 --> 00:19:07.339 for they had heard that they should eat bread there. 00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:09.439 And when Joseph came home, 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:11.240 they brought into the house to him 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:12.879 the present that they had with them 00:19:12.879 --> 00:19:15.539 and bowed down to him to the ground. 00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:18.399 And he inquired about their welfare and said, 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:19.419 Is your father well? 00:19:19.859 --> 00:19:21.220 The old man of whom you spoke, 00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:22.159 is he still alive? 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:23.299 And they said, 00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:24.919 Your servant, our father, is well. 00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:26.759 He is still alive. 00:19:27.339 --> 00:19:28.399 And they bowed their heads 00:19:28.399 --> 00:19:29.720 and prostrated themselves. 00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:32.380 And then he lifted up his eyes 00:19:32.380 --> 00:19:33.839 and saw his brother Benjamin, 00:19:34.140 --> 00:19:35.339 his mother's son, 00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:36.140 and said, 00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:37.420 Is this your youngest brother 00:19:37.420 --> 00:19:39.160 of whom you spoke to me? 00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:40.640 Benjamin, 00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:42.640 it would have been just a young child 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:44.100 when Joseph came into Egypt, 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:45.980 but this is his only brother 00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:47.799 who shares both his mother and his father. 00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:50.200 And so he's moved at the side of him, 00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:50.660 and he says, 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:53.019 God be gracious to you, my son. 00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:54.980 And Joseph hurried out, 00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:57.019 for his compassion grew warm for his brother, 00:19:57.019 --> 00:19:59.079 and he sought a place to weep. 00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:00.799 And he entered his chamber, 00:20:00.920 --> 00:20:01.660 and he wept there. 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:03.519 And then he washed his face 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:04.299 and came out. 00:20:04.460 --> 00:20:05.700 And controlling himself, 00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:06.180 he said, 00:20:06.420 --> 00:20:07.339 Serve the food. 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:09.600 And they served him by himself 00:20:09.600 --> 00:20:11.200 and them by themselves 00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:13.519 and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, 00:20:13.680 --> 00:20:16.120 because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, 00:20:16.420 --> 00:20:18.660 for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. 00:20:19.579 --> 00:20:20.940 And they sat before him, 00:20:21.079 --> 00:20:23.579 the firstborn according to his birthright, 00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:26.079 and the youngest according to his youth. 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:26.880 And the men, 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:28.620 they looked at one another in amazement. 00:20:28.619 --> 00:20:30.239 You see, 00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:31.979 they came fearing judgment, 00:20:32.979 --> 00:20:33.559 but instead, 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:34.319 what happens? 00:20:34.419 --> 00:20:36.239 They're welcomed with blessing. 00:20:37.439 --> 00:20:40.199 They are feasting in a time of famine. 00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:43.099 And it seems like they have the approval 00:20:43.099 --> 00:20:46.839 and the favor of one of the most powerful men of the world, 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:49.279 someone with limitless resources, 00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:51.939 who seems to be intent on blessing them, 00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:53.259 not on judging them. 00:20:53.259 --> 00:20:55.519 But things could not be going better. 00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:58.099 But what they don't know, 00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:00.379 what we do, 00:21:00.460 --> 00:21:02.140 because we're peeking behind the curtain here, 00:21:02.180 --> 00:21:02.460 remember, 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:04.460 is that Joseph, 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:05.240 their brother, 00:21:06.099 --> 00:21:07.319 is setting them up. 00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:09.180 Joseph, 00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:09.839 their brother, 00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:12.640 is putting them to the test. 00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:14.480 And to be honest, 00:21:14.579 --> 00:21:15.740 he has earned this right, 00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:16.160 hasn't he? 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:20.180 If your brothers betray you, 00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:22.259 and throw you into a pit, 00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:23.779 and leave you for dead, 00:21:23.880 --> 00:21:25.120 and sell you into slavery, 00:21:25.120 --> 00:21:26.519 and then you get put into prison 00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:28.060 for nothing that you've done, 00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:30.019 you have earned the right to mess with your brothers. 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:32.560 That's exactly what Joseph does here. 00:21:32.620 --> 00:21:34.400 He puts them to the test. 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:35.220 For one thing, 00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:38.380 you notice he seats them in order of their birth. 00:21:39.060 --> 00:21:39.880 The oldest, 00:21:40.080 --> 00:21:41.279 according to his birthright, 00:21:41.340 --> 00:21:41.820 and the youngest, 00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:43.480 according to his youth. 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.980 They have no idea, 00:21:45.099 --> 00:21:46.420 how in the world can this Egyptian 00:21:46.420 --> 00:21:47.920 know our birth order? 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:49.279 That's got to be unsettling, right? 00:21:50.200 --> 00:21:51.940 How does this guy know who's the oldest, 00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:53.220 and then after that, 00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:54.220 all nine of us, 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:55.140 he puts us right in order. 00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:56.000 How does he do that? 00:21:56.860 --> 00:21:57.839 He's setting them up. 00:21:58.860 --> 00:21:59.360 And for another, 00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:00.180 as they eat, 00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:01.380 verse 34 says, 00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:03.220 portions were taken to them 00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:04.279 from Joseph's table, 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:05.160 but notice this, 00:22:05.579 --> 00:22:08.460 Benjamin's portion was five times 00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:09.740 as much as theirs. 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:13.160 Joseph shows extraordinary, 00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.900 favor to Benjamin, 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:16.640 but this also is a test. 00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:19.440 We already know that he's the favorite. 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:21.360 Joseph knows that he's the favorite. 00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:23.019 They told him the first time, 00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:24.400 daddy didn't want his little boy 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:25.420 to come over to Egypt, 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:28.059 but now Joseph wants to see, 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:30.559 will these brothers be jealous of him 00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:31.839 like they were jealous of me? 00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:34.000 You remember the issue 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:35.079 at the beginning of the story. 00:22:35.900 --> 00:22:38.440 This whole thing was the fruit of jealousy. 00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:40.259 Joseph was the favorite son, 00:22:40.339 --> 00:22:41.920 and so they were jealous of him. 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:43.779 Will they be jealous of Benjamin 00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:44.500 in the same way? 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:47.660 Seems like they pass phase one. 00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:49.519 They all eat and are merry, 00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:50.900 but all of this, again, 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:54.360 is luring them into this false sense of security, 00:22:54.360 --> 00:22:57.060 and the tone changes here in chapter 44. 00:22:57.059 --> 00:23:00.980 Then he commanded the steward of the house, 00:23:01.700 --> 00:23:03.359 fill the men's sacks with food, 00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:04.599 as much as they can carry, 00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:07.399 and put each man's money in the mouth of his sack, 00:23:07.659 --> 00:23:10.039 and put my cup, the silver cup, 00:23:10.399 --> 00:23:12.139 in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, 00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:13.359 with his money for the grain. 00:23:13.919 --> 00:23:15.779 And he did as Joseph told them. 00:23:16.659 --> 00:23:18.200 And as soon as the morning was light, 00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:20.079 the men were sent away with their donkeys. 00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:22.940 They had gone only a short distance from the city. 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:24.920 Now Joseph said to his steward, 00:23:25.120 --> 00:23:26.820 Up, follow after the men, 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:28.340 and when you overtake them, 00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:29.000 say to them, 00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:31.320 Why have you repaid evil for good? 00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:33.980 Is it not from this that my Lord drinks, 00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:36.360 and by this that he practices divination? 00:23:36.820 --> 00:23:38.500 You've done evil in doing this. 00:23:39.380 --> 00:23:40.340 And when he overtook them, 00:23:40.360 --> 00:23:41.799 he spoke to them these words. 00:23:42.519 --> 00:23:43.200 And they said to him, 00:23:43.400 --> 00:23:45.580 Why does my Lord speak such words as these? 00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:48.360 Far be it from your servants to do such a thing. 00:23:49.059 --> 00:23:51.319 Behold, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks, 00:23:51.419 --> 00:23:53.559 we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. 00:23:54.179 --> 00:23:57.099 How then could we steal silver or gold from your Lord's house? 00:23:57.799 --> 00:24:01.159 Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die, 00:24:01.339 --> 00:24:03.579 and we will also be my Lord's servants. 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.019 Uh-oh. 00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:05.919 He said, 00:24:05.979 --> 00:24:06.859 Let it be as you say. 00:24:07.859 --> 00:24:10.159 He who is found with it shall be my servant, 00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:11.799 and the rest of you shall be innocent. 00:24:12.859 --> 00:24:15.059 And each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, 00:24:15.179 --> 00:24:16.979 and each man opened up his sack, 00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:20.660 and he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest, 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:24.240 and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. 00:24:25.860 --> 00:24:27.319 And they tore their clothes. 00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:30.220 And every man loaded up his donkey, 00:24:30.339 --> 00:24:31.680 and they returned to the city. 00:24:32.039 --> 00:24:34.500 And when Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, 00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:35.420 he was still there. 00:24:35.620 --> 00:24:37.740 They fell before him to the ground, 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:39.000 and Joseph said to them, 00:24:39.120 --> 00:24:40.819 What deed is this that you have done? 00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:45.559 Do you not know that a man like me can indeed practice divination? 00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:47.299 And Judah said, 00:24:47.460 --> 00:24:48.559 What shall we say to my Lord? 00:24:48.619 --> 00:24:49.519 What shall we speak? 00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:51.319 How can we clear ourselves? 00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:54.759 God has found out the guilt of your servants. 00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:57.279 Behold, we are my Lord's servants, 00:24:57.599 --> 00:25:01.440 both we and he also in whose hand the cup was found. 00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:05.440 He's trying to rope himself in here with Benjamin. 00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:06.700 When he said, 00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:08.440 Far be it from me that I should do so. 00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:12.480 Only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my servant. 00:25:13.259 --> 00:25:15.580 But as for you, you go up in peace to your father. 00:25:17.420 --> 00:25:20.460 This is now the second part of the test. 00:25:21.640 --> 00:25:26.320 Will these brothers betray Benjamin as they betrayed Joseph? 00:25:27.880 --> 00:25:28.900 And Joseph makes it clear. 00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:31.299 Only Benjamin is going to bear this guilt. 00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:33.420 He's going to bear it alone. 00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:34.980 What will they do? 00:25:34.980 --> 00:25:39.099 Will they make up another lie and go tell their father what happened 00:25:39.099 --> 00:25:40.779 and leave Benjamin behind? 00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:44.319 There's even a touch of irony here, isn't there? 00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:46.519 They betrayed Joseph for what? 00:25:46.579 --> 00:25:46.940 Do you remember? 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:49.120 A little bit of silver. 00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:52.420 And now what is it that's in Benjamin's bag? 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:53.860 It's a silver cup. 00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:56.039 The silver cup has put them in this predicament. 00:25:56.180 --> 00:25:58.380 God has found out their sin. 00:25:58.660 --> 00:25:59.660 And more than that, 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:01.400 you remember in Joseph's case, 00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:04.059 who was it who spoke up to sell them into slavery? 00:26:04.059 --> 00:26:05.139 It was Judah. 00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:07.779 But now, verse 18, 00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:10.379 Judah went up to him and says, 00:26:10.819 --> 00:26:14.480 Oh my Lord, please let your servant speak a word in my Lord's ears. 00:26:15.159 --> 00:26:17.220 Let not your anger burn against your servant, 00:26:17.579 --> 00:26:19.220 for you are like Pharaoh himself. 00:26:20.099 --> 00:26:21.599 My Lord asked his servant, saying, 00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:23.259 Have you a father or a brother? 00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:24.700 And we said to my Lord, 00:26:24.779 --> 00:26:26.440 We have a father, an old man, 00:26:26.659 --> 00:26:29.079 and a younger brother, the child of his old age. 00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:30.819 His brother is dead. 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:32.279 No, he's not. 00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:34.960 And he alone is left of his mother's children, 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:36.639 and his father loves him. 00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:38.579 Then you said to your servants, 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:39.740 Bring him down to me, 00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:41.339 that I may set my eyes on him. 00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:43.000 And we said to my Lord, 00:26:43.079 --> 00:26:44.639 The boy cannot leave his father, 00:26:44.899 --> 00:26:46.259 for if he should leave his father, 00:26:46.339 --> 00:26:47.339 his father would die. 00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:49.200 And then you said to your servants, 00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:51.559 Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, 00:26:51.940 --> 00:26:53.859 you shall not see my face again. 00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:56.759 When we went back to your servant, my father, 00:26:56.819 --> 00:26:58.399 we told him the words of my Lord. 00:26:58.400 --> 00:26:59.840 And when our father said, 00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:01.519 Go again and buy us a little food, 00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:02.340 we said, 00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:03.320 We cannot go down. 00:27:03.360 --> 00:27:05.120 If our youngest brother goes with us, 00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:06.480 then we will go down. 00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:08.580 For we cannot see the man's face, 00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:10.620 unless our youngest brother goes with us. 00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:13.180 Then your servant, my father, said to us, 00:27:13.380 --> 00:27:15.820 You know that my wife bore me two sons. 00:27:16.320 --> 00:27:17.580 One left me, and I said, 00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:19.259 Surely he's been torn to pieces, 00:27:19.580 --> 00:27:21.100 and I've never seen him since. 00:27:21.600 --> 00:27:23.480 If you take this one also from me, 00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:24.820 and harm happens to him, 00:27:24.819 --> 00:27:28.379 you will bring down my gray hairs in evil to Sheol. 00:27:29.179 --> 00:27:29.919 Now therefore, 00:27:30.099 --> 00:27:32.359 as soon as I come up to your servant, my father, 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:33.839 and the boy is not with us, 00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:36.720 then as his life is bound up in the boy's life, 00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:39.720 as soon as he sees that the boy is not with us, 00:27:39.919 --> 00:27:40.819 he will die. 00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:43.980 And your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant, 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:44.480 our father, 00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:45.919 with sorrow to Sheol. 00:27:46.679 --> 00:27:49.819 For your servant became a pledge of safety for the boy to my father, 00:27:50.339 --> 00:27:50.539 saying, 00:27:50.599 --> 00:27:52.339 If I do not bring him back to you, 00:27:52.339 --> 00:27:55.939 then I shall bear the blame before my father all my life. 00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:57.339 Now therefore, 00:27:58.059 --> 00:28:01.119 please let your servant remain instead of the boy, 00:28:01.339 --> 00:28:02.839 as a servant to my Lord, 00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:04.939 and let the boy go back with his brothers. 00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:08.419 For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? 00:28:08.959 --> 00:28:11.359 I fear to see the evil that would find my father. 00:28:12.159 --> 00:28:12.599 Judah, 00:28:13.199 --> 00:28:15.299 on behalf of all the brothers, 00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:17.539 passes the test. 00:28:17.539 --> 00:28:23.000 Judah offers himself in the place of Benjamin. 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:29.099 Judah offers himself as a substitute in the place of the guilty. 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:30.079 He says, 00:28:30.180 --> 00:28:32.299 It's my life in the place of his. 00:28:32.359 --> 00:28:34.420 And do you see here a small picture of Christ? 00:28:37.139 --> 00:28:37.659 Judah, 00:28:38.299 --> 00:28:38.559 here, 00:28:38.659 --> 00:28:43.659 gives us a small foretaste of what Christ Jesus will come and do for us. 00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:44.660 Jesus Christ, 00:28:45.100 --> 00:28:47.519 who is from the tribe of Judah, 00:28:48.820 --> 00:28:51.540 who will be a descendant of this man right here. 00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:58.340 Jesus Christ will come and offer himself as a substitute for those who are truly guilty. 00:28:59.840 --> 00:29:02.960 Jesus Christ will come and fully take their place. 00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:07.820 He will perfectly live in perfect obedience in our place. 00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:12.700 He will die a death on the cross in the place of his people. 00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:18.159 It's the righteousness of Christ in exchange for our guilt and our sin. 00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:22.720 Jesus substitutes himself for his people. 00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:25.819 Not just one brother for another, 00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:28.220 although that's an incredibly generous act. 00:29:28.839 --> 00:29:31.319 But the king of kings for sinners. 00:29:32.839 --> 00:29:33.139 Here, 00:29:33.140 --> 00:29:38.020 Judah foreshadows this great event by offering himself up for his guilty brother, 00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:38.980 Benjamin. 00:29:39.280 --> 00:29:41.800 Judah passes the test. 00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:43.940 But even so, 00:29:44.040 --> 00:29:44.680 by and large, 00:29:44.800 --> 00:29:47.360 you consider the whole response here. 00:29:47.580 --> 00:29:51.840 The response of these brothers to their difficulty is one of fear. 00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:53.780 They don't know that this is just a test. 00:29:54.680 --> 00:29:57.200 They don't get to peek behind the scenes like we do 00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:59.940 and see Joseph's intentions and all of this. 00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:02.740 They're just enduring this incredibly difficult trial 00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:04.039 and they fear. 00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:05.160 They fear the unknown. 00:30:05.360 --> 00:30:06.559 What's going to happen to us? 00:30:07.460 --> 00:30:09.360 They fear what's going to happen to their brother. 00:30:10.320 --> 00:30:13.340 They fear what's going to happen to their father when he hears about it. 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:14.720 Church, 00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:18.000 how often when we're hit with some sort of trial, 00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:20.299 do we respond with fear? 00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:24.299 Do you fear the unknown possibilities? 00:30:25.640 --> 00:30:26.880 What might happen? 00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:29.400 What might not happen? 00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:30.620 What could happen? 00:30:31.160 --> 00:30:32.620 What will happen if this happens? 00:30:34.040 --> 00:30:36.860 Does your mind tend to go to the worst case scenario 00:30:36.860 --> 00:30:40.680 and dwell there and let that consume your thoughts? 00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:43.160 Do you fear the future? 00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:46.700 So often we respond with fear 00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:50.120 when God's people are called to respond with faith. 00:30:50.380 --> 00:30:51.259 Don't you realize, 00:30:51.620 --> 00:30:54.880 do not be anxious is a command in scripture. 00:30:54.880 --> 00:31:00.680 Do not fear is a command in scripture. 00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:05.540 Do not worry is a command in scripture. 00:31:05.539 --> 00:31:11.240 Not because life is easy and there's nothing to have to work through. 00:31:11.339 --> 00:31:14.180 There's no difficult things to deal with. 00:31:14.259 --> 00:31:15.119 Far from it. 00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:19.200 But it's because we have a good and sovereign God 00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:22.379 who's reigning and ruling over all things, 00:31:22.680 --> 00:31:24.220 including our trials, 00:31:24.220 --> 00:31:31.799 even using these trials to mold us and shape us further and further into his image. 00:31:31.799 --> 00:31:34.700 Do you respond to your difficulties with fear? 00:31:34.700 --> 00:31:38.700 Joseph shows us a better way. 00:31:39.799 --> 00:31:41.200 Look there to chapter 45. 00:31:41.539 --> 00:31:45.700 And here we see the third and final response to great difficulty. 00:31:45.900 --> 00:31:49.220 We see Joseph responds with faith. 00:31:49.220 --> 00:31:52.380 Judah passes the test. 00:31:52.579 --> 00:31:54.539 Chapter 45, verse 1 says, 00:31:54.640 --> 00:31:58.740 Then Joseph could not control himself before all who stood by him. 00:31:59.339 --> 00:32:00.140 He cried, 00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:01.740 Make everyone go out from me. 00:32:01.819 --> 00:32:04.980 So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 00:32:05.460 --> 00:32:08.660 And he wept aloud so that the Egyptians heard it 00:32:08.660 --> 00:32:10.700 and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 00:32:11.019 --> 00:32:12.500 And Joseph said to his brothers, 00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:13.980 I am Joseph. 00:32:15.059 --> 00:32:16.640 Is my father still alive? 00:32:16.640 --> 00:32:19.500 But his brothers could not answer him 00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:21.680 for they were dismayed at his presence. 00:32:21.800 --> 00:32:23.040 I bet they were. 00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:27.620 Here they stand before the one whom they betrayed. 00:32:29.020 --> 00:32:32.920 Here they stand before the one who now has the power 00:32:32.920 --> 00:32:35.300 to destroy them for their guilt. 00:32:36.740 --> 00:32:40.140 Here they stand before their brother who they sold for dead 00:32:40.140 --> 00:32:43.340 and is now one of the most powerful men on the planet. 00:32:43.339 --> 00:32:46.699 He literally holds their fate in his hands. 00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:51.679 And yet, what does Joseph do? 00:32:53.579 --> 00:32:54.779 What does Joseph do? 00:32:56.059 --> 00:32:58.480 Joseph shows them mercy. 00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:02.240 And more than mercy, Joseph shows them favor. 00:33:03.199 --> 00:33:05.000 Joseph shows them kindness. 00:33:06.179 --> 00:33:08.059 Joseph is gracious to them. 00:33:08.179 --> 00:33:09.439 He blesses them. 00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:11.299 He feeds them lavishly. 00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:12.859 He rewards the guilty. 00:33:12.859 --> 00:33:14.059 He blesses them. 00:33:14.119 --> 00:33:15.479 He overlooks their sins. 00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:16.819 He forgives them. 00:33:17.679 --> 00:33:20.759 It's a powerful response to his brother's sins against him. 00:33:21.939 --> 00:33:25.799 What could possibly lead Joseph to respond like this? 00:33:26.039 --> 00:33:28.179 How come he doesn't get to respond with despair? 00:33:29.939 --> 00:33:32.859 Nobody in this story has had it worse than Joseph, have they? 00:33:33.939 --> 00:33:36.399 How come Joseph doesn't respond with fear? 00:33:37.659 --> 00:33:40.299 How come Joseph isn't angry with his brothers? 00:33:40.299 --> 00:33:43.460 How come he doesn't seek vengeance on them? 00:33:43.460 --> 00:33:45.599 How can he respond like this? 00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:54.279 I think he has had some time to reflect on all of this. 00:33:54.679 --> 00:33:59.899 It's been about 22 years now since he was betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery 00:33:59.899 --> 00:34:02.419 and taken to Egypt and left for dead. 00:34:02.519 --> 00:34:03.559 It was 22 years. 00:34:03.559 --> 00:34:04.679 That's a long time to think. 00:34:04.679 --> 00:34:16.239 And in that time, he has seen God continue to bless and to bless and to bless and to bless. 00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:23.039 He has seen that God is at work even in this great difficulty. 00:34:23.399 --> 00:34:27.819 My God is fulfilling his purposes in and through me. 00:34:28.219 --> 00:34:34.779 Joseph has adopted the perspective that each and every one of us can have in our difficulty. 00:34:35.139 --> 00:34:35.639 What is it? 00:34:35.639 --> 00:34:43.579 That our God is at work in all things for his glory and for our good. 00:34:43.659 --> 00:34:44.500 Look there to verse 4. 00:34:46.679 --> 00:34:48.960 Joseph said to his brothers, come near to me, please. 00:34:49.639 --> 00:34:50.559 And they came near. 00:34:51.339 --> 00:34:55.579 And he said, I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 00:34:55.699 --> 00:34:56.699 You're guilty. 00:34:56.839 --> 00:34:57.480 You did that. 00:34:57.480 --> 00:35:02.780 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here. 00:35:02.880 --> 00:35:03.139 What? 00:35:04.179 --> 00:35:05.820 Don't be angry at yourselves. 00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:10.800 Do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here. 00:35:11.079 --> 00:35:11.340 Why? 00:35:12.059 --> 00:35:15.820 For God sent me before you to preserve life. 00:35:16.639 --> 00:35:19.360 For the famine has been in the land these two years. 00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:23.880 And yet there are five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 00:35:23.880 --> 00:35:32.099 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to keep alive for you many survivors. 00:35:32.640 --> 00:35:37.019 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. 00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:43.940 He has made me a father to Pharaoh and Lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 00:35:44.240 --> 00:35:48.220 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, thus says your son Joseph. 00:35:48.680 --> 00:35:51.360 God has made me Lord of all of Egypt. 00:35:51.360 --> 00:35:53.579 Come down and do not tarry. 00:35:53.680 --> 00:35:55.200 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen. 00:35:55.579 --> 00:36:01.519 You shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children and your flocks and your herds and all that you have. 00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:03.860 There I will provide for you. 00:36:04.260 --> 00:36:10.519 For there are yet five years of famine to come so that you and your household and all that you have do not come to poverty. 00:36:11.220 --> 00:36:17.140 And now your eyes see and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you. 00:36:17.139 --> 00:36:21.819 You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt and of all that you have seen. 00:36:21.960 --> 00:36:23.659 Hurry and bring my father down here. 00:36:24.500 --> 00:36:26.960 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept. 00:36:27.500 --> 00:36:29.440 And Benjamin wept upon his neck. 00:36:29.819 --> 00:36:32.339 And he kissed all his brothers and he wept upon them. 00:36:32.420 --> 00:36:34.920 And after that his brothers talked with them. 00:36:37.179 --> 00:36:38.359 Let me ask you a question. 00:36:38.360 --> 00:36:44.160 Who sent Joseph to Egypt? 00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:50.039 His brothers or God? 00:36:51.720 --> 00:36:54.740 Who is responsible for Joseph's enslavement? 00:36:55.640 --> 00:36:59.120 His brothers or God? 00:36:59.119 --> 00:37:06.579 On the surface level, of course, yes, his brothers sent him there. 00:37:06.679 --> 00:37:09.619 And yes, they are responsible for their sin. 00:37:10.099 --> 00:37:12.639 They are responsible for their actions. 00:37:12.759 --> 00:37:15.059 They are guilty for their actions. 00:37:15.319 --> 00:37:18.980 But on an even greater level, do you hear what Joseph is saying? 00:37:19.819 --> 00:37:22.440 He says, God has done this. 00:37:22.440 --> 00:37:30.079 Joseph is teaching us an important lesson here that we ought to take and apply to every circumstance of our life. 00:37:30.420 --> 00:37:38.360 Our God is always at work in all things for his glory and for our good. 00:37:38.440 --> 00:37:40.619 Isn't this the promise that we just read from Romans 8? 00:37:41.820 --> 00:37:45.220 The anchoring confidence of the believer in trials is this. 00:37:45.219 --> 00:37:51.939 We know that for those who love God, all things work together for good. 00:37:52.439 --> 00:37:54.959 For those who are called according to his purpose. 00:37:55.399 --> 00:37:57.119 All things, believer. 00:37:57.679 --> 00:38:01.819 All things, including, Brother Samson, the massacre of your people. 00:38:03.459 --> 00:38:07.039 All things, including the destruction of your life savings. 00:38:08.579 --> 00:38:13.819 All things, including the scattering of your church and your exile from your home. 00:38:13.820 --> 00:38:19.260 We may never know on this side of heaven, how in the world could this possibly work for good? 00:38:19.440 --> 00:38:21.400 We don't get to peek behind the curtain. 00:38:22.100 --> 00:38:25.300 But we know there is a good and sovereign God behind the curtain. 00:38:25.740 --> 00:38:28.320 Working all things for his glory and our good. 00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:35.660 All things, Joseph, including your betrayal at the hands of your own brothers. 00:38:36.860 --> 00:38:39.840 All things, including the lies that have been told about you. 00:38:39.840 --> 00:38:43.680 All things, including being left for dead and sold into slavery. 00:38:43.820 --> 00:38:51.300 All things, including being tempted in powerful ways and lied about again and betrayed again and put into prison again. 00:38:51.480 --> 00:38:56.580 All of it, from beginning to end, is the work of a good and sovereign God for good. 00:38:58.519 --> 00:39:01.039 Yes, you brothers intend to kill me. 00:39:01.120 --> 00:39:01.940 Yes, that was evil. 00:39:03.140 --> 00:39:05.160 And yet God sent me before you. 00:39:05.340 --> 00:39:07.880 God did this to preserve life. 00:39:07.880 --> 00:39:09.700 Yes, you wanted to curse me. 00:39:10.119 --> 00:39:12.980 But God sent me before you to bless you. 00:39:13.860 --> 00:39:15.920 And to preserve for you a remnant on the earth. 00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:17.880 It was not you who sent me there. 00:39:18.079 --> 00:39:19.740 But God. 00:39:20.180 --> 00:39:22.240 Christian, this is the truth. 00:39:22.640 --> 00:39:24.740 That will anchor you in your difficulties. 00:39:26.180 --> 00:39:27.500 This is the truth. 00:39:28.160 --> 00:39:30.300 That will anchor you in your suffering. 00:39:30.300 --> 00:39:32.320 Whatever it is that you will endure. 00:39:33.320 --> 00:39:36.019 Our good and sovereign God is in it. 00:39:36.860 --> 00:39:37.980 For his glory. 00:39:38.620 --> 00:39:39.620 And our good. 00:39:39.720 --> 00:39:40.940 Church, we believe. 00:39:41.800 --> 00:39:43.000 Our God is sovereign. 00:39:44.640 --> 00:39:46.620 Even over the sin of man. 00:39:48.240 --> 00:39:50.700 Even over the great evil of this world. 00:39:52.280 --> 00:39:59.220 And what a comfort it is to know that there is no disaster that will come upon you that is outside of God's sovereign will. 00:39:59.219 --> 00:40:01.159 But we see it here clearly, don't we? 00:40:01.419 --> 00:40:03.959 Our God works in all things. 00:40:04.199 --> 00:40:06.219 Even through the sin of man. 00:40:06.419 --> 00:40:09.279 To accomplish his good purposes. 00:40:10.939 --> 00:40:14.059 But where do we see this more clearly than at the cross of Christ? 00:40:15.699 --> 00:40:18.679 Who put Jesus on the cross? 00:40:20.579 --> 00:40:23.319 Why did Jesus suffer the way he did? 00:40:25.439 --> 00:40:26.519 Jesus suffered. 00:40:27.039 --> 00:40:28.839 Like Joseph, he was betrayed. 00:40:28.840 --> 00:40:32.039 He had no place to lay his head like Joseph. 00:40:32.160 --> 00:40:33.940 He was wrongfully accused. 00:40:34.180 --> 00:40:35.980 He was wrongfully imprisoned. 00:40:36.340 --> 00:40:37.400 He was struck. 00:40:37.620 --> 00:40:38.559 He was whipped. 00:40:38.840 --> 00:40:40.740 He was beaten beyond recognition. 00:40:41.100 --> 00:40:43.360 And then he was hung on a cross to die. 00:40:43.780 --> 00:40:46.200 Who sent Jesus to the cross? 00:40:48.880 --> 00:40:50.200 On the surface level, 00:40:51.760 --> 00:40:52.860 our sin put him there. 00:40:54.740 --> 00:40:56.200 Sinful man put him there. 00:40:56.199 --> 00:40:59.559 And they are guilty for their sin. 00:40:59.559 --> 00:41:01.480 But on an even greater level. 00:41:01.480 --> 00:41:05.800 This was the eternal plan of God. 00:41:05.800 --> 00:41:08.619 For his glory and our good. 00:41:08.619 --> 00:41:10.559 Church, when you understand this, 00:41:11.179 --> 00:41:15.559 you will be able to respond the way that Joseph responds 00:41:15.559 --> 00:41:17.320 when someone sins against you. 00:41:17.320 --> 00:41:20.320 Not with despair. 00:41:20.320 --> 00:41:20.800 Not with fear. 00:41:20.800 --> 00:41:22.220 Not with fear. 00:41:22.220 --> 00:41:23.360 Not with anger. 00:41:23.360 --> 00:41:24.320 Not with bitterness. 00:41:24.720 --> 00:41:26.240 Not with vengeance. 00:41:26.240 --> 00:41:28.880 But with faith in a good and sovereign God. 00:41:28.960 --> 00:41:30.160 Do you share this perspective? 00:41:30.159 --> 00:41:35.219 I love the way the Heidelberg Catechism asks, 00:41:36.159 --> 00:41:38.420 What do you understand by the providence of God? 00:41:39.599 --> 00:41:40.559 And the answer, 00:41:41.679 --> 00:41:46.179 Providence is the almighty and ever-present power of God 00:41:46.179 --> 00:41:49.159 by which he upholds as with his hand 00:41:49.159 --> 00:41:52.119 heaven and earth and all creatures. 00:41:52.119 --> 00:41:55.839 And so rules them that leaf and blade, 00:41:56.279 --> 00:41:57.460 rain and drought, 00:41:57.880 --> 00:41:59.719 fruitful and lean years, 00:42:00.019 --> 00:42:01.000 food and drink, 00:42:01.380 --> 00:42:02.539 health and sickness, 00:42:02.940 --> 00:42:04.440 prosperity and poverty, 00:42:04.920 --> 00:42:06.420 all things, in fact, 00:42:07.179 --> 00:42:09.059 come to us not by chance, 00:42:09.579 --> 00:42:11.880 but from his fatherly hand. 00:42:13.279 --> 00:42:15.179 The follow-up question asks, 00:42:15.859 --> 00:42:18.440 How does this knowledge of God's creation and providence 00:42:18.440 --> 00:42:19.420 help us? 00:42:19.420 --> 00:42:20.320 Answer, 00:42:21.059 --> 00:42:24.460 we can be patient when things go against us. 00:42:25.420 --> 00:42:27.320 Thankful when things go well. 00:42:28.639 --> 00:42:29.380 And for the future, 00:42:29.519 --> 00:42:32.639 we can have good confidence in our faithful God and Father 00:42:32.639 --> 00:42:36.420 that nothing in creation will separate us from his love. 00:42:36.760 --> 00:42:40.539 For all creatures are so completely in God's hand 00:42:40.539 --> 00:42:41.860 that without his will, 00:42:42.180 --> 00:42:44.559 they can neither move nor be moved. 00:42:46.700 --> 00:42:49.220 Because God is at work, church, 00:42:49.420 --> 00:42:52.360 you can be patient when things go against you 00:42:52.360 --> 00:42:55.740 and thankful when things go well 00:42:55.740 --> 00:42:58.900 and confident that come what may, 00:42:59.000 --> 00:43:02.039 our good and sovereign God is at work. 00:43:02.139 --> 00:43:03.200 Do you share this perspective? 00:43:05.200 --> 00:43:08.260 Of course, this type of confidence is only possible 00:43:08.260 --> 00:43:10.760 for those who know Jesus Christ. 00:43:10.760 --> 00:43:13.020 Do you know Jesus Christ by faith? 00:43:14.900 --> 00:43:18.340 If not, what keeps you from coming to him in faith this morning? 00:43:20.160 --> 00:43:23.340 King Jesus, like Joseph, but in a much greater way, 00:43:23.660 --> 00:43:26.580 truly died, truly rose again, 00:43:26.980 --> 00:43:29.200 truly now reigns over all the earth 00:43:29.200 --> 00:43:30.540 and resurrection power. 00:43:30.660 --> 00:43:32.580 Do you see a picture of this here in our passage? 00:43:32.579 --> 00:43:36.819 Jesus, like Joseph, but in a much greater way, 00:43:37.139 --> 00:43:40.179 truly has power to judge the living and the dead, 00:43:40.299 --> 00:43:43.139 and we all truly have sinned against him. 00:43:43.219 --> 00:43:44.279 We are guilty, 00:43:45.239 --> 00:43:46.579 and yet like Judah, 00:43:47.980 --> 00:43:50.199 Jesus Christ has offered his own life 00:43:50.199 --> 00:43:52.900 as a substitute for the guilty, 00:43:53.900 --> 00:43:55.900 for the weak and the defenseless. 00:43:55.900 --> 00:43:58.460 Sinners like us and like Joseph, 00:43:58.780 --> 00:43:59.960 in place of judgment, 00:44:00.240 --> 00:44:02.079 he has offered great mercy 00:44:02.079 --> 00:44:03.500 and great grace 00:44:03.500 --> 00:44:04.800 and great kindness 00:44:04.800 --> 00:44:06.139 and great favor 00:44:06.139 --> 00:44:07.599 to sinners like us. 00:44:07.660 --> 00:44:08.500 Do you know him? 00:44:10.619 --> 00:44:11.320 And if you do, 00:44:11.480 --> 00:44:11.960 in church, 00:44:12.220 --> 00:44:13.780 let this great gospel 00:44:13.780 --> 00:44:15.900 shape the way we handle 00:44:15.900 --> 00:44:18.059 all our struggles in this life. 00:44:18.340 --> 00:44:19.720 We need not despair 00:44:19.720 --> 00:44:21.639 because Christ has given us hope. 00:44:23.240 --> 00:44:24.740 We need not fear 00:44:24.739 --> 00:44:26.419 because Christ is with us 00:44:26.419 --> 00:44:27.479 to the end of the age. 00:44:28.719 --> 00:44:30.719 We need not respond 00:44:30.719 --> 00:44:32.219 with vengeance or with anger 00:44:32.219 --> 00:44:34.779 because God has forgiven us in Christ, 00:44:34.939 --> 00:44:37.579 so we also must forgive one another, 00:44:37.779 --> 00:44:39.599 trusting that in all things 00:44:39.599 --> 00:44:40.679 our God is at work 00:44:40.679 --> 00:44:42.000 for his glory 00:44:42.000 --> 00:44:43.779 and for our good. 00:44:44.000 --> 00:44:44.399 Let's pray. 00:44:44.759 --> 00:44:45.059 Father, 00:44:45.879 --> 00:44:48.019 we praise you 00:44:48.019 --> 00:44:49.339 that you are a good 00:44:49.339 --> 00:44:50.819 and sovereign God. 00:44:52.459 --> 00:44:54.199 That there is no difficulty 00:44:54.199 --> 00:44:55.379 that we will endure 00:44:55.379 --> 00:44:56.099 in this life 00:44:56.099 --> 00:44:57.039 that comes to us 00:44:57.039 --> 00:44:59.119 but by your fatherly hand. 00:44:59.259 --> 00:45:00.099 That even though 00:45:00.099 --> 00:45:00.980 we don't see 00:45:00.980 --> 00:45:03.019 in all the many ways 00:45:03.019 --> 00:45:04.019 that you're working good 00:45:04.019 --> 00:45:05.019 even in difficulty, 00:45:05.359 --> 00:45:05.559 Lord, 00:45:05.619 --> 00:45:06.299 we believe 00:45:06.299 --> 00:45:07.059 because your word 00:45:07.059 --> 00:45:08.059 has told us 00:45:08.059 --> 00:45:09.699 that you are at work 00:45:09.699 --> 00:45:10.339 for our good 00:45:10.339 --> 00:45:11.639 and for your glory. 00:45:11.799 --> 00:45:12.379 We pray, God, 00:45:12.419 --> 00:45:13.039 would we respond 00:45:13.039 --> 00:45:13.879 with this perspective 00:45:13.879 --> 00:45:15.480 when trials come. 00:45:16.219 --> 00:45:17.379 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:45:18.079 --> 00:45:18.339 Amen. 00:45:18.339 --> 00:45:18.460 Amen. 00:45:18.460 --> 00:45:18.500 Amen. 00:45:18.500 --> 00:45:18.500 00:45:18.500 --> 00:45:18.500 00:45:18.500 --> 00:45:18.500 00:45:18.500 --> 00:45:18.500 00:45:18.500 --> 00:45:18.500 00:45:18.500 --> 00:45:18.500 00:45:18.500 --> 00:45:18.500